Already owning a F4S and spending a considerable time in italy on a regular basis, the word is that the factory was in "casa integrazione" ie all the workers at home collecting unemployment from the government. The original Piaggio deal fell through (Deutsch Bank did not want to assume $150 million dollars of debt) however it seems that a new, much smaller deal is in place. Does anyone know what is going on? Are they back working and making bikes? Will I get my Brutale S ?

-- gregg levethan (gregg@levethan.com), February 22, 2002

Answers

While we're on this subject, what is Cagvia's "bread and butter"? Where are they making their money? Obviously, it's not all being made in selling a few thousand F4s and Brutales a year. I see that they are still making a nice adventure type bike, and the raptor stuff is mildly interesting as well. But where do they really make their money? Doesn't seem like there is much of it... The F4 is obviously their flagship model, but it just doesn't seem to be doing too well right now. Too bad, it's a wonderful bike.

Is it time to worry?

Andy

-- Andy R (quadreverb@yahoo.com), February 22, 2002.

I recently received an e-mail from a Cagiva Rep. He stated that despite anything I may have heard, MV is still currently producing motorcycles, and that they(Cagiva U.S.A.) continue to receive anticipated shipments. He further informed me that they are currently able to receive new products earlier then in previous years. I can't guarantee this info, but this is what I was told.

-- john milotzky (jmilotzky@wi.rr.com), February 22, 2002.

My local dealer told me that he will be receiving a shipment of 2002 shortly and is placing an order for additional bikes.

I wish Cagiva would make a formal announce to dispel the rumors.

-- Allan Gibbs (Phoenix, Arizona) (Agibbs996@aol.com), February 23, 2002.

What I heard is that Cagiva now sells Husquarna to Piaggio to get some money for the production. You see what poor management can do with a wonderful (motorbike-)idea. brgds Heinrich

-- Heinrich Kuchlbauer (heinrich.kuchlbauer@nexgo.de), February 24, 2002.

Piaggio Takes Stake in Rival MV Agusta, Expects Closer Ties 2001-07-24 13:31 (New York)

Piaggio Takes Stake in Rival MV Agusta, Expects Closer Ties

Pontedera, Italy, July 24 (Bloomberg) -- Piaggio Holding SpA, the maker of Vespa motor scooters, agreed to buy 20 percent of MV Agusta SpA, helping the maker of Cagiva- and Husqvarna-badged bikes to survive as the two companies discuss closer ties. Piaggio has been discussing a buyout or merger with MV Agusta for several months, according to Italian media reports. MV Agusta, based in Varese, near Milan, has been struggling to pay suppliers to continue production after spending too much on new production facilities and on marketing new models. ``The agreement with MV Agusta,'' said Piaggio Chairman Dante Razzano in a statement faxed to news organizations, represents ``the first step towards a possible closer integration between the two companies.'' The companies didn't give financial details. The European motorcycle market is suffering from flat sales as insurance premiums rise and stiffer environmental protection standards cause prices to rise. Moreover, governments in countries such as Italy are insisting riders wear helmets, reducing the attraction of scooters to riders accustomed to using their machines bareheaded. Shares of Ducati Motor Holding SpA, the maker of high- performance motorcycles, have almost halved in value in the past 12 months. Ducati is Italy's only traded motorcycle maker. ``The motorcycle market is very competitive and has very high marketing costs,'' said Carlo Cultrera, an analyst at Caboto in Milan. MV Agusta's flagship model is the 175 miles-per-hour, 750cc F4, which costs about $20,000 and was part of the Guggenheim Museum's ``The Art of the Motorcycle'' exhibition. The company's Husqvarna-badged off-road bikes are leading contenders in that type of competition. Piaggio, the biggest European maker of two wheelers, is controlled by Morgan Grenfell Private Equity Ltd., a unit of Deutsche Bank AG. The buyout fund has been using Piaggio as the center of a strategy to assemble brands to attain the size needed to compete with Japanese rivals, such as Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. The company, which is based in Pontedera, near Pisa in central Italy, in January agreed to buy Spain's Derbi Nacional Motor SA for an undisclosed amount to boost market share in Europe and widen its product range. Last year Piaggio, which isn't publicly traded, had profit of 11.5 billion lire ($5.2 million) on sales of 2 trillion lire. MV Agusta in 2000 sold 23,000 machines worth 240 billion lire. Spokesman Martino Bianchi declined to discuss whether the company was profitable or to supply further financial details. MV Agusta would bring Piaggio a presence in both road and off- road motorcycles, complementing its own range of scoters. Because many dealers in Europe sell more than one brand of machine, the ability to offer a full range of products is important, analysts say. While Piaggio has its Gilera motorcycle brand, the racing success of MV Agusta's marques has brought them a higher profile. MV Agusta's has won 37 constructors World Championships and 270 Grand Prix races. Husqvarna has won 64 constructors World Championships.

--John Glover in the Milan newsroom (3902) 806-44-200, Story illustration: http://www.mvagusta.com/index2.html for the company's Web page. See {TNI ITALY TRN } for a menu of stories about Italian transport. {TRNT } to see Top transport news.

-- brad hamilton (bradhamilton@hotmail.com), March 25, 2002.

please said me bravo motor site in italy company i can not found it.

-- arin maroos (maroosarin@yahoo.com), August 12, 2002.